Transportation Law Table
Transportation Law Table
Abaño                              -1-
                                                                CODE OF COMMERCE: TRANSPORTATION OVER LAND
 (ARTS. 358, 370-71)                  (ART. 359,                   (ARTS. 363-365)                  (ART. 366,                    (ARTS. 368, 369)                     (ART. 373)
                                   JURISPRUDENCE)                                                JURISPRUDENCE)
     TIME TO DELIVER                      ROUTE                       DELIVERY                       CLAIM/SUIT                   MISDELIVERY/NON-                  MULTI-CARRIERS
                                                                  PARTIAL DEFECTIVE                                                   DELIVERY
1. when no period fixed:       1. if route agreed upon,                                      purpose     of     following                                      This      refers    to    an
carrier   must    forward      carrier may not change it        the carrier must deliver     requirements: so carrier can     the carrier must deliver the     arrangement where several
goods     in   the    first    unless by reason of force        the goods in the same        check validity of claims         goods to the consignee or        carriers         successively
shipment of same or            majeure; otherwise, carrier      condition and quantity in    while facts are still fresh      legitimate holder of the bill    transport the goods, or by
similar goods.                 is liable for losses suffered    which        they   were     and      documents       still   of lading.                       a single through bill of
                               by goods, and for indemnity      received, according to       available.                                                        lading issued by a carrier
2. when period fixed:          stipulated.                      the bill of lading.                                           1. the shipper may order         and honored by the other
carrier   must     deliver                                                                   1. when the damage is            the return or retention of       carriers.
goods within time fixed.       2. if no agreed route, carrier   1. in case of partial        ascertainable    from    the     the goods by carrier, prior
                               must select shortest, least      delivery, consignee may      outside part of the package,     to appearance of consignee       1. in transportation of
   DELAY IN DELIVERY           expensive and practically        refuse to receive those      the claim must be made at        or legitimate holder of ill of   goods     by     successive
                               passable route (Art. 1747).      delivered if they cannot     the time of receipt.             lading.                          carriers, the last carrier
in case of delay,        the                                    be used independently of                                                                       assumes the obligation of
carrier is liable for:                                          those not delivered.         2. when the damage is            2. the carrier is liable for     the previous carriers.
                                                                                             ascertainable only by the        damages if it delivers to the
1. indemnity stipulated in                                      2. if the goods delivered    opening of the package, the      wrong person (misdelivery).      2. but the last carrier, if
the bill of lading.                                             were rendered useless        claim against carrier must                                        not directly responsible for
                                                                for sale or consumption,     be made within 24 hours          3. if the carrier makes no       the loss or damage, may
2.   if   no   stipulation,                                     consignee may refuse to      following receipt (longer        delivery or refuses to deliver   proceed      against     the
damages due to delay                                            receive.                     period may be stipulated).       (non-delivery),            the   previous carriers.
which may not exceed                                                                                                          consignee may sue for
the current price of the                                        3. if the goods delivered    3. in both cases, the claim      conversion and damages.          3. shipper/consignee have
goods on the day and                                            are damaged to such an       must    be   made    before                                       right of action against
place of destination.                                           extent that their value is   payment of transportation        4. if consignee cannot be        carrier   who     executed
                                                                diminished, carrier must     charge.                          found in the place indicated     transportation contract, or
3. special damages, like                                        pay the difference in                                         in bill of lading, or refuses    the other carriers who
unrealized    profit,    if                                     value    as  judged    by    4. a provisional claim need      to pay transportation charge     received   goods    without
carrier foresaw or had                                          experts.                     not state in detail list of      or to receive goods, the         reservation.
notice of circumstances                                                                      goods lost or damaged, so        carrier may deposit goods in
leading to the probable                                         in the first 2 cases,        long as carrier can make         its warehouse or the court;      4. carriers with reservation
occurrence     of     such                                      consignee may exercise       reasonable verification.         such deposit has the legal       are    not     relieved   of
damage.                                                         abandonment      and   be                                     effect of delivery.              responsibilities for their
                                                                entitled to full value of    5.   claim      is  condition                                     own acts.
4. full value of goods, if                                      goods.                       precedent to right of action,    claim    not    a   condition
consignee            should                                                                  which must be filed within 2     precedent to action, which
exercise abandonment of                                                                      year from delivery of goods      must be filed within 4 years
the goods by advising                                                                        or denial of claim.              if no written contract or 10
carrier accordingly prior                                                                                                     years if written contract.
to arrival at destination.                                                                   6. sufficient and reasonable
                                                                                             shorter period may be
                                                                                             stipulated in the bill of
                                                                                             lading.
                                                                                                                                     Atty. Vivencio F. Abaño                             -2-
                                                                     VESSELS/PERSONS IN MARITIME COMMERCE
A. Definition:                   A. Ship agent (may be shipowner; not a civil agent):          A. Captain of big vessels for       A. Officers must be duly         A. Refund due to voyage
                                                                                               high sea or coastwide trade;        licensed (PRC and MARINA).       suspension           or
1.   those    with   motive      1. entrusted with provisioning vessel.                        master for smaller vessels for                                       interruption:
power.                           2. represents vessel in port where she is (Art. 586).         coastwide trade.                    B.    Officers   include   the
2.    means      of   water      3. represents shipowner in judicial/extrajudicial acts                                            following:                       1. if due to fault of
transportation (P.D. 474)        (Art. 595)                                                    B. Qualifications:                                                   captain or ship agent,
                                                                                                                                       1.   sailing mate            passenger has right to
B. Excluded:                     B. Civilly liable for:                                             1.   Filipino citizen.             2.   second mate             refund of fare and to
1. local and foreign military                                                                       2.   with       skill   and        3.   third mate              damages.
vessels                               1.   acts and obligations of captain contracted to                 capacity to command           4.   marine     engineer
2.     bancas    and    other              repair, equip, and provision vessels (Art.                    and direct vessel.                 (Arts. 627-633)         2. if due to force majeure
watercrafts of less than 3                 586).                                                    3.   duly     licensed   by                                     or fortuitous event, only
tons gross capacity (P.D.             2.   indemnities arising from conduct of captain                   MARINA (Arts. 609,                                         return of fare or part
474)                                       in the care of goods and passengers carried                   882)                                                       thereof in proportion to
3.      small      watercrafts             by vessel (Art. 587).                                                                                                    distance traveled before
engaged in river and bay              3.   obligation contracted by captain even               C. Civilly liable for:                                               interruption (Art. 697).
traffic (Art. 835)                         exceeding his powers and privileges,                                                          SUPERCARGOES
                                           provided made for the benefit of vessel (Art.            1.   damage to vessel                                           B. Baggage:
C. Classified as personal                  588).                                                         due     to    lack   of   in maritime law, a person
property,    ownership of             4.   damages in case of collision by reason of the                 skill/negligence.         specially employed by the        1.       passenger      is
which to be recorded in                    fault, negligence, or lack of skill of captain or        2.   theft,       robberies,   owner of cargo to take           considered    a    shipper
registry of vessels.                       any member of the complement.                                 mutiny by crew.           charge     of    and   sell      insofar as the goods he
                                                                                                    3.   abuse of power.           merchandise which have           carries on board.
D.       Warranty          of    C. Doctrine of limited liability and             right   of        4.   unjustified deviation.    been shipped, to purchase
seaworthiness:                   abandonment (Arts. 587, 590, and 837):                             5.   losses,    fines   and    returning cargoes, and to        2. insofar as the goods in
                                                                                                         confiscation imposed      receive freight, as he may       the immediate custody of
1. equipped for the voyage            1.   because of real and hypothecary nature of                     due to violation of       be authorized (Arts. 649-        the     passenger,     the
and manned with sufficient                 maritime law, liability of shipowner/agent is                 laws and regulations      651).                            captain is not responsible,
number      of    competent                limited o value of vessel, equipment and                      (Arts. 618-620).                                           unless the damage arises
officers and crew.                         freight during the voyage.                                                                                               from his act or the crew’s
                                      2.   shipowner/agent may exempt themselves               D. Defense of force majeure:                                         (Art. 703).
2. shipper/passenger not                   from    liability  by   abandoning    vessel,
required to inquire into                   equipment or freight.                                    1.   proximate and only
vessel’s     seaworthiness,           3.   Creditor      cannot    refuse    offer    of                 cause.
genuineness of its licenses,               abandonment.                                             2.   due    diligence to
and      compliance     with                                                                             prevent or minimize
maritime laws.                   D. Doctrine not applicable:                                             loss.
                                                                                                    3.   no delay.
3.   vessel     must      be          1.   where shipowner/agent is at fault or                     4.   protest without 24
seaworthy at the star of                   concurrently negligent with captain.                          hours.
voyage; carrier not liable if         2.   where shipowner/agent allows his vessel to
seaworthiness occurs later                 embark in an unseaworthy condition.
due to fault of shipper or            3.   where vessel in insured.
passenger.                            4.   in Workmen’s Compensation Act.
                                                                                                                                  Atty. Vivencio F. Abaño                               -3-
                                                                DAMAGES AND ACCIDENTS IN MARITIME COMMERCE
        (ART. 1766)                      (ART. 1733)                     (ART. 1735)                (ART. 1734)            (ARTS. 1739-1743)               (ARTS. 1744-1752)
      GOVERNING LAWS                    EXTRAORDINARY                LOSS, DETERIORATION              DEFENSES           CONDITIONS TO AVAIL OF           STIPULATION LIMITING
                                   DILIGENCE/RESPONSIBILITY            OR DESTRUCTION              EXEMPTING OR                DEFENSES                         LIABILITY
     1.   New Civil Code                                                                             MITIGATING
     2.   Code of Commerce        1. to transport with greatest                                       LIABILITY                                          1. Requisites:
     3.   Special Laws            skill and utmost foresight                                                                                               a. in writing
                                                                                                                                                           b. with           valuable
                                  2. utmost vigilance of very           PRESUMPTION OF           1. natural disaster      1.                                  consideration other
        (ART. 1732)               cautious person, according to           NEGLIGENCE             like   flood, storm,       a.    proximate and only           than the services of
      COMMON CARRIER              all circumstances                                              earthquake,                      cause.                       the common carrier
                                                                     1. not conclusive but       lightning.                  b.   exercise        of       c. reasonable, just and
1. engaged in the business of                                        disputable presumption                                       diligence       to           not    contrary     to
carrying or transporting goods         (ARTS. 1736-1738)                                                                          prevent         or           public policy
or passengers                             DURATION OF                2. may be overcome by                                        minimize loss.
    a. whether as principal              EXTRAORDINARY               contrary evidence of                                                                2. Void Stipulation:
         or ancillary business           RESPONSIBILITY              defenses.                                                                             a. unreasonable
    b. whether on regular/                                                                       2. act of public         2. same       as   in   #1      b. unjust
         scheduled basis or       1. from time goods are                                         enemy     in     war,      (above).                       c. contrary to public
         occasional/unschedul     unconditionally     placed    in        (ART.1753)             whether international                                          policy
         ed basis                 possession of and received by                                  or civil.
                                  common carrier for transport       law of the country of                                                               3. Valid Stipulation:
2. offers its service to the      until actual or constructive       destination shall govern                                                              a.    limited to value of
public                            delivery to consignee or person    liability  of   common      3. act or omission of    3.                                    goods appearing in
   a.    whether     to     the   with right to receive.             carrier     for     loss,   owner or shipper of        a.    if proximate cause,            bill of lading
         general population                                          destruction            or   goods.                           exempting.               b.    fixed sum that is
   b.    or narrow segment of     2. even when goods are             deterioration of goods.                                 b.   if      contributory           reasonable and just
         general population       temporarily unloaded or stored                                                                  negligence,                    and agreed upon
                                  in transit, unless shipper used                                                                 mitigating.              c.    delay due to strike
3. for compensation or fixed      right of stoppage in transitu.                                                                                                 or riot
price or rate
                                  3.even during time of storage                                  4. character of goods    4.    exercise   of   due     4.    Factors        to     be
4. control of operation/cargo     at warehouse of common                                         or defect in the           diligence to forestall or    considered:
                                  carrier at place of destination,                               packing or container.      prevent losses.                 a. refusal      to    carry
                                  until consignee is advised of                                                                                                 goods            unless
                                  goods’ arrival and has had                                                                                                    stipulation limiting
                                  opportunity to remove or                                                                                                      liability is signed by
                                  dispose of them.                                               5. order or act of       5. with power to issue               shipper
                                                                                                 competent    public        the order.                      b. delay or deviation
                                                                                                 authority.                                                 c. lack of presence of
                                                                                                                                                                competition
                                                                                                                                     Atty. Vivencio F. Abaño                              -5-
                                                                        TRANSPORTATION OF PASSENGERS
(ARTS. 1733, 1755) (JURISPRUDENCE) (ART. 1756) (ARTS. 1757, 1758) (ARTS. 1761, 1762) (DEFENSES)
     EXTRAORDINARY             CONTRACT OF CARRIAGE                 DEATH OR INJURY TO              LIMITATION OF LIABILITY           DUTY OF PASSENGERS            1.       exercise       of
       DILIGENCE                                                        PASSENGER                                                                                   extraordinary diligence by
                               A. Commencement:                                                     1. liability cannot be           1. to observe ordinary         common carrier.
1. to carry passengers                                                                              dispensed or lessened by         diligence to avoid injury to
safely as far as human care    1. (liberal view) when a                                             posting     of   notices,        himself.                       2. negligent act of the
and foresight can provide.     person     offers    to     be                                       statements on tickets or                                        passenger is proximate
                               transported, placing himself       PRESUMPTION                OF     otherwise.                       2. contributory negligence     cause of death or injury.
2. using utmost diligence of   in the care and control of the     NEGLIGENCE                                                         of passenger does not bar
a very cautious person.        common carrier who accepts                                           2. in gratuitous carriage        recovery of damages but        3. employees could not
                               him as such passenger.             disputable and may be             stipulation to limit liability   reduces amount thereof.        have       prevented      by
3. with due regard for all                                        overcome by proof of              may be valid, but not for                                       ordinary     diligence   the
the circumstances.             2. (strict view) there is actual   exercise of extraordinary         willful   act    or     gross                                   willful act or negligence of
                               boarding or placing of a part      diligence.                        negligence.                            (ART. 1763)              other      passengers     or
                               of the passenger’s body in                                                                                                           strangers which caused
NO INSURER OR ABSOLUTE         the vehicle.                                                         3. reduced far does not                 ACTS OF CO-             injury or death.
SAFETY                                                              (ARTS. 1759, 1760)              justify limiting liability.           PASSENGERS OR
                               B. Termination:                                                                                              STRANGERS               4. liability is mitigated by
the common carrier is not                                         NON-EXEMPTING OR NON-                                                                             the             contributory
required to exercise all the   When the passenger alights                LIMITING                                                    1. common carrier is           negligence of passenger
care, skill or diligence the   from the vehicle at the place                                                                         responsible in case of         or his failure to observe
human mind can conceive,       of   destination   and    has      1. common carrier is liable                                        death or injury on account     ordinary diligence to avoid
nor free the passenger from    reasonably opportunity to          due to negligence or willful                                       of willful act or negligence   injury.
all possible risks.            leave the common carrier’s         act of employee, even if                                           of other passengers or
                               premises.                          done beyond scope of                                               strangers --                   5. stipulation to limit
                                                                  authority or in violation of                                                                      liability  is   valid    in
PASSENGER                                                         orders.                                                            2. if employees could          gratuitous carriage, if no
                                                                                                                                     have       stopped   or        willful   act   or    gross
one who travels in a public                                       2. liability does not cease                                        prevented the act or           negligence by common
conveyance by virtue of an                                        with exercise of ordinary                                          omission by exercise of        carrier.
express of implied contract                                       diligence     by   common                                          ordinary diligence.
with the common carrier,                                          carrier.
paying fare or what is the
equivalent thereof.                                               3. liability is not eliminated
                                                                  or limited by stipulation
                                                                  posting        of      notices,
                                                                  statements on the tickets.
                                                                                                                               Atty. Vivencio F. Abaño                             -6-
                                                                               RECOVERABLE DAMAGES
compensation for pecuniary        compensation for physical            awarded            for    award   is  more      than    damages agreed upon in a       imposed   by    way    of
loss suffered (Art. 2219).        suffering, mental anguish,           vindication         or    nominal but less      than    contract in case of breach     example or correction for
                                  fright, serious anxiety, etc.,       recognition of a right    actual   damages      (Art.   thereof (Art. 2226).           the common good (Art.
Kinds:                            which are the proximate              which      has   been     2224).                                                       2229).
                                  result of the wrongful act or        invaded or violated                                     amount stipulated shall be
1. Art. 2200                      omission (Arts. 2217, 2219).         (Art. 2221).              When recoverable:             equitably    reduced     if    When recoverable:
     a. actual loss                                                                                                            iniquitous/unconscionable
     b. unrealized profit         Grounds for award:                   Grounds            for    1. when pecuniary loss        (Art. 2227).                   1. there must be an
                                                                       recovery:                 was    suffered   but the                                    award of actual, moral,
2. Art. 2205                      1. in breach of contract of                                    amount     thereof cannot     Example:                       temperate or liquidated
     a.    impairment        of   carriage, there must be fraud,       1. breach of legal duty   from the very nature                                         damages.
           earning capacity       bad faith, or death (Art.            or invasion of legal      thereof be proved with        1. valid stipulation on
     b.    injury to business     2220, Jurisprudence).                right even if no actual   certainty.                    limited amount of liability.   2. crime is attended by
           standing          or                                        damage resulted or                                                                     aggravating
           commercial credit      2.    in case of death, heirs        none is shown.            2. when the amount can        2. stipulated indemnity in     circumstance.
                                  entitled to moral damages.                                     be proved but the plaintiff   case of delay.
3. Art. 2206                                                           2. no actual, moral, or   failed to present evidence                                   3. gross negligence in
     a. fixed indemnity           3. only injured passengers           temperate     damages     therefore or submitted the    When recoverable:              commission  of   quasi-
     b. loss     of    earning    entitled to moral damages            awarded.                  wrong evidence, nominal                                      delict.
         capacity formula:        due      to      his injury                                    damages      is   awarded     1. proof of existence of
         [2/3    (80-age     of   (Jurisprudence).                                               (Jurisprudence).              contract.                      4. contract (of carriage)
         death)      x    gross                                                                                                                               is violated in wanton,
         income] ÷ 2              Factors to determine:                                                                        2. proof of breach of          fraudulent,     reckless,
                                                                                                                               contract, or of delay in       aggressive or malevolent
4. Arts. 2208-2213                1. social, political, official and                                                           compliance or fulfillment.     manner.
     a. attorney’s fee            financial       standing        of
     b. interest                  passenger (Jurisprudence).                                                                                                  When not recoverable:
             SALVAGE LAW                            SHIP MORTGAGE DECREE                         LAND TRANSPORTATION TRAFFIC                            IATA TARIFF RULES
              (R.A. 2616)                                  (P.D. 1521)                                     CODE (R.A. 4136)
A. Definitions:                               A. Purpose of mortgage:                       1.    A motor vehicle must be registered for      Under the rules of the International Air
                                                                                                  the current year, as a condition for its    Transportation Association (IATA), an
    1.   Service rendered to preserve the     To finance the construction, acquisition,           operation on a public road or highway.      airplane ticket is valid for one year.
         goods or ship which the owner        purchase of vessel, or initial inspection 2.        A person can still drive a vehicle even
         has either abandoned in distress     thereof.                                            without possessing his driver’s license,    That is the time allowed the passenger to
         at sea or is unable to protect or                                                        albeit he may be violating traffic rules.   begin and complete his trip. A passenger
         secure.                              B. Conditions for preferred mortgage:               (Manuel v. CA, 227 SCRA 29).                ca no longer use an expired ticket to
    2.   Compensation to one by whose                                                       3.    A person driving with an expired and        complete his trip. He must purchase a
         assistance a ship or its cargo has       1.   Registration with PCG                      unrenewed license is deemed not to          new ticket for the remaining portion of his
         been saved from impending                2.   Affidavit of good faith                    have any license at all.                    journey (Air France v. CA, 126 SCRA
         danger or recovered from actual          3.   No waiver of preferred status        4.    Insurance requires an “authorized           449).
         loss.                                                                                    driver” who is either the insured of a
    3.   Vessel or cargo recovered from       C. Preferred mortgage has priority over all         person driving on insured’s order or
         abandonment at sea.                  claims against the vessel, except:                  with his permission, provided he
                                                   1. Taxes, crew’s wages, general                abides with licensing rules. A driver
B. Elements of valid salvage:                          average,      salvage,   damages           with expired Traffic Violation Receipt
                                                       arising out of torts                       (TVR) or Temporary Operation Permit
    1.   Marine peril                              2. Preferred mortgages registered              (TOP) is not an authorized driver
    2.   Voluntary service                             prior in time                              within the meaning of insurance policy.
    3.   Success in whole or part                  3. Maritime lien arising prior to 5.           Mortgage,      attachment,     or   other
                                                       registration      of    preferred          encumbrances on a motor vehicle must
                                                       mortgage (Sec. 17)                         be registered and recorded on the face
                                                                                                  of the Certificate of Registration.
                                              D. Maritime lien for necessities:
                                   Special cases:
                                       1. Local Government (Local Autonomy Code)
                                            - franchising of tricycles
                                       2. Special Economic Zones: CDC & SBMA
                                            - communication franchises within their respective zones
Regulatory bodies/Administrative
and Quasi-Judicial Agencies